230 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
DISA GRANDIFLORA WITH BRANCHED SPIKES? 
SOME time ago we were asked a question as to the occurrence of branching 
spikes in Disa grandiflora, and could only say that, although figwres of such 
had appeared, we had never seen plants in this condition. We have since 
discovered that a discussion on the question took place some years ago, part 
of which it seems desirable to reproduce, with the hope of settling the 
doubtful point. 
Speaking of ‘‘ Orchidaceous exaggerations,’ Prof. Reichenbach once 
remarked :—‘‘ I remember having seen somewhere a drawing of Disa 
grandiflora with a branched inflorescence. Now, if such a thing had 
really happened, which I scarcely believe, it should not have been 
represented, except as an anomaly.”—(Gard. Chron., 1866, p. 197.) 
To this Mr. W. H. Fitch replied:—‘‘I have been informed that 
branching spikes of Disa grandiflora are not uncommon; and in a drawing 
I made for Mr. Robert Warner’s Orchid work, I ventured to introduce a 
stem with two flowers (sic) on, and had my veracity doubted. I think it a 
pity that such abnormal spikes should not be preserved or forwarded to 
botanists for their enlightenment; it would be but a courteous acknow- 
ledgment of their services, and relieve artists from many derogatory 
insinuations.” —(Gard. Chron., 1866, p. 244.) 
This, naturally enough, led to further remarks by Prof. Reichenbach :— 
“Concerning Disa grandiflora, I believe I am sufficiently experienced to 
be allowed to express some doubts as to certain representations. I will 
not allude to the hundreds of dried specimens that have passed through my 
hands during more than a quarter-of-a-century, but I should like to say 
that near Hamburg both Mr. Kramer and Mr. Schmidt grow the plant 
with the highest success. Mr. Kramer, in the garden of Senator Jenisch 
(the same who was formerly suspected to feed his plants with wonderful 
and mysterious philtres) has not many specimens, but he sometimes 
produces seven-flowered spikes, and these are unbranched. At Mr. 
Schiller’s you can see every year as many as forty very large pots, each 
containing a good number of plants. When flowering, they all stand under 
the verandah, displaying masses of flowers as scarlet as an English 
soldier’s jacket, provided it be new. Now I have never seen among 
them any branched spike, though Mr. Schmidt in growing Disas is beyond 
all praise. . . After so much experience, I should hope not to be 
accused of being ‘hardly fair’ when alluding to a branched Disa as to 
something one would like to see before believing in it. Wishing to 
avoid any personalities, I did not even name the place where the plant is 
figured, and where (plate 36) everyone who has eyes may read, ‘J. Andrews, 
del. et lith.” and the ‘J. A.’ are added between the two parts of the 
